Euro 2012

With the Republic of Ireland's qualifying campaign for Euro 2012 underway, JOE has kindly taken the time to profile their five opponents in Group B.

By Conor Hogan

Armenia

Manager: Vardan Minasyan

World Ranking: 96

It would be easy to take Armenia for granted, considering they finished bottom of their qualifying group for South Africa 2010. That would be a grave mistake, however, as the Highlanders are dangerous opposition, especially at home. In that campaign they managed to defeat Belgium 2-1 in the Hrazdan Stadium in Yerevan, while they recorded a victory over Poland in the qualifiers for Euro 2008, as well as draws against Portugal, Finland and Serbia.

FC Khimki's Roman Berezovsky, an outstanding goalkeeper, is a penalty saving specialist (he's made 14 throughout his career in Russia). Levon Pachajyan and Arthur Yedigaryan play in Iran, Yeghia Yavruyan plays for Israeli club Bnei Yehuda (the team Shamrock Rovers defeated in the Europa League), while American citizen Yura Movsisyan (formerly of Real Salt Lake) and centre-back Robert Arzumanyan both play in Denmark for Randers FC. Movsisyan has a good scoring record, managing nine in only 13 games this season. And like so many teams across the world, they have a naturalized Brazilian playing for them in Pyunik's Marcos Pizzelli.

Star player: Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Undoubtedly the hot prospect of Armenian football, Mkhitaryan (above) has been a star for Metalurh Donetsk in the Ukrainian League since joining in 2009. He was instrumental in their top half finish last year, contributing nine goals from midfield. He was named the youngest captain in their history at the age of just 21. His performances were enough to earn him a €7.5million move to champions Shakhtar Donetsk, as well as the award of Armenian player of the year.

Fixtures against Ireland:

Home: 3 September 2010: Hanrapetakan Stadium, Yerevan

Away: 11 October 2011: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Andorra

Manager: Koldo

World Ranking: 201

The tiny principality in the Pyrenees may not have the worst national team in Europe, but they are definitely in the bottom two, as the only other team to finish pointless in the World Cup qualifiers were San Marino. Andorra's record in internationals is appalling - then again what would you expect from a country with a population of a mere 80,000? In their history, they have won three matches, drawn nine and lost 76; scoring 30 goals and conceding 251 in the process.

Their best player has tended to be their recently retired goalkeeper and current manager Koldo, who often pulled off heroics in keeping the score down. Most of their players either ply their trade in the Andorran League (the second worst in Europe) or the lower divisions in Spain.

Star player: Ildefons Lima

Lima (above) is Andorra's best outfielder player of all-time, by virtue of the fact that he has played professional football throughout his career for clubs in Serie B and the Spanish Second Division. He is currently playing in the Swiss Super League for AC Bellinzona.

Fixtures against Ireland:

Away: 7 September 2010: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Home: 7 October 2011: Stadium TBA

Macedonia

Manager: Mirsad Jonuz

World ranking: 66

Many Ireland fans will have bad memories of the Macedonians, specifically that 3-2 loss in Skopje in 1997. The Red Lions have improved a hell of a lot in the intermitting 13 years too, convincingly outplaying Scotland in their 1-0 win in Skopje in 2008.

Defender Nikolce Noveski is one of Mainz 05's best players - a team who have started the Bundesliga in flying form with victories over Stuttgart and Wolfsburg. Goran Popov plays for Dynamo Kiev, ex-Ipswich and Preston midfielder Veliče Šumulikoski plays for Sibir Novosibirsk in the Russian Premier League, while 22-year-old Aleksandar Lazevski plays for Partizan Belgrade, who recently overcame Anderlecht in the Champions League qualifiers.

Macedonia's main strength is up front, however, most notably Inter Milan's Goran Pandev. He'll likely form a partnership with either SV Mattersburg striker Ilčo Naumoski or former Cork City trainee Tričkovski. Ireland will be playing their away match against Macedonia on 4 June, when temperatures can get as high as 30 degrees Celsius.

Star player: Goran Pandev

Probably the greatest player to ever come from Macedonia, Pandev (above) was awarded the the Medal for Service to the Country in 2009 by then Macedonian president Branko Crvenkovski. The 27-year-old has an outstanding scoring record for his country, with 23 goals in 54 internationals.

He had a tremendous six years at Lazio, before a contract dispute allowed him leave on a free transfer to Inter Milan. He played a vital role in his current team's run to a domestic and European treble.

Fixtures against Ireland:

Away: 26 March 2011: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Home: 4 June 2011: Stadium TBA